Lightning-arrester.



N0. 636,44I. Patented Nov. 7, I899. D. MESSICK.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER. (Application filed Aug. 8, 1899.] (No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet l,

FIE

fitter/nova N0- 636,44l. Patented Nov. 7,1899. 0. MESSICK.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

{ 1 3 flap/c] 2776551226 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

DAVID MESSIOK, OF TIMBERVILLE, VIRGINIA.

LIGHTNING- ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,441, dated November '7, 1899.

Application filed August 8, 1 8 9 9.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID MESSICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Timber- Ville, in the county of Rockingham and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Li ghtnin g-Arresters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to lightning-arresters or cut-outs for telegraph and telephone lines; and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, efficient, and durable device of this character.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved lightningarrester or cut-out switch as it appears when the main line is connected to the telephone or other instrument located in the building.

.Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the sliding switch when the telephone is cut out from the line. Fig. 3 is a reverse view of the arrester. Fig. 41s a horizontal section on the line of the contact points or fingers. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of theinvention.

A denotes the base-board provided with a protecting-ledge.

2 3 denote the main-dine conductors,which are secured to the insulators i 4 in the usual manner, and their free ends are turned downwardly to form the spring contact-fingers 2 3', which, as shown in Fig. 1, have a sliding contact with the beveled fingers 4 5, formed integral with the office-wires 4- and 5 and which of course correspond to the outside conductors 2 3.

6 represents the switch-block, and it may be made of porcelain, glass, or any other suitable refractory non-conducting material, so as to form an insulator for the current.

7 7 denote bolts which extend through the block 6, through a longitudinal slot 8 in the base-board,and are fixed in a slide-bar 9, from which cords or flexible wire ropes 1O 11 en Serial No. 726,555. (No model.)

tend over suitable guide-pulleys 12 13 to any suitable point, so that the switch-block may be moved to the right or left, as desired. It will be noted that said switch-block is also provided with guide-orifices 6 and 6 through which the angular arms l and 5 of the con ductors 4 5 pass, and the action of the block is such that it causes a sliding contact to be made between the contact-fingers 2 i and 3' 5 each time the contact is made and broken. This removes all dust, dirt, and oxidation from the contact-iingers, and thus insures a perfect connection each time the fingers come in contact.

1a and 15 denote the ground-wires, and their free ends are flattened to form the contact-fingers 1e 15, which have a bearing on the face of the switch-block and in the path of the metal plates 16 17, fixed to the block, and, as shown in Fig. 2, the 0ff1ce-wires are cut out and the line-current passes from the conductor-lingers 2 3 across the plates 16 1'7 to the contact-fingers 1415, and thence to the earth through the ground-wires let 15, thus forming a safe path for the lightning to the earth without passing through the officewires.

It will be noted that when the line is connected with the ground the free ends of the phone-wires are protected by the block sliding over and forming a protecting-hood for them, so that when thus hidden or concealed there is no liability of the lightning leaving the main line or jumping to the instrumentwires.

It will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

A. lightning-arrester switch comprising the non-conducting switch-block 6 formed with the transverse guide-orifices 6 6 and the conductor-plates 16 17 carried bysaid switchblock, the main-line conductors having their contact-fingers 2 3 resting on said block and in the path of said plates, the ground-wires having their contact-fingers 1d 15' also rest ing on said switch-block in the path of said my hand in presence of two subscribing Witplates, and the office-Wires 4 5 terminating nesses.

in the contact-fiiwers 4t 5 extending throiwh 7 7 1 said guide-orifice s in the switch-block, and I ID MLSSIOK' means for reciprocating said switch-block, Vitnesses: substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 0. N. WINE,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set M. A. PRICE. 

